US Considers Sanctions on Kwankwaso, Miyetti Allah Over Religious Persecution in Nigeria

US lawmakers, including Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, and Mario Diaz-Balart, have introduced a bill in the House of Representatives titled the "Nigeria Religious Freedom Account Act 2026." The bill seeks to compel the Secretary of State to submit a comprehensive report on US efforts to address ongoing religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria. The legislation aims to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and use diplomatic, humanitarian, and economic tools to pressure the Nigerian government to end impunity for perpetrators of mass atrocities and protect religious minorities, particularly the Christian community.

The bill also calls for determining whether certain Fulani ethnic militias in Nigeria qualify as foreign terrorist organizations. If passed, the bill could lead to targeted sanctions, including visa bans and asset freezes under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

Notable figures like Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor, and Miyetti Allah, specifically MACBAN, could face sanctions. The Nigerian government has denied allegations of religious persecution, despite claims of violence against Christians and other religious minorities.